Armenia's National Assembly parliamentary speaker called destruction of the country's helicopter gunship a provocative act of Azerbaijani official authorities seeking to undermine peace in the region

YEREVAN, November 13. /TASS/. Azerbaijan is to blame for destabilizing Nagorno-Karabakh, the landlocked mountainous region in the South Caucasus, Armenia's National Assembly parliamentary speaker Galust Saakyan said on Thursday.

Destruction of a helicopter gunship was "one more step Azerbaijan has taken to disrupt negotiations and undermine all agreements for a peaceful settlement, building trust and preserving the ceasefire regime” in a region of conflict between the two countries, he said.

“This is a provocative act staged by Azerbaijani official authorities seeking to undermine fragile peace and stability in the region. Baku authorities bear full responsibility for escalation of tension and attempts to destabilize the situation,” Saakyan added.

Armenia's Defense Ministry said on November 12 that Azerbaijan's army had downed a Mil Mi-24 helicopter of the Nagorno-Karabakh defense army, killing three pilots. Azerbaijan's military said the helicopter had attacked their positions and had been destroyed in retaliatory fire.